“The Millshires’ car is also in the stables.”
“True. I considered him for an instant, but there again, there was the handkerchief, and the fact that Ellie had worked for Sir Walter.” She was tempted to tell him about Madeline’s prediction, but quickly shunned the idea. “With everything put together, I was convinced I had the killer. All I had to do was prove it.”
“And, as has happened so many times before, you almost died in the process.” He shook his head, his grave glance meeting hers. “When, Cecily? When are you going to give up all this nonsense and live a normal life?”
She sighed. “I don’t go looking for these situations. They come to me.”
“Yes, I know.” He stared down at his hands. “I’m beginning to believe in the Christmas curse. Either the Pennyfoot is cursed or you are.”
She laughed. “I suppose we’ll never know exactly which one it is.”
“There’s one way to find out.” He looked up again, his expression giving her cause to worry. “You could leave.”
The cold feeling in her chest spread rapidly. “We tried that once. We were miserable.”
“
She stared at him, eyes wide, not knowing quite how she felt. “Bax, darling, that would be so wonderful for you! Seeing all those exotic countries and meeting the people, what an exciting career!” The familiar lump rose in her throat and she swallowed. “Oh, but how I should miss you. I imagine you would be gone months at a time.”
He nodded, his face a mask of wariness. “Months.”
“Well,” she swallowed again, “you must take it, of course. You can’t possibly allow such a wonderful opportunity to slip by. I’ll manage somehow, and we’ll make up for lost time when you are home.”
“He wants you to come with me.”
Now she felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of her body. “What?”
Baxter nodded. “When I told him about your experience with hotel management, he thought we would make a wonderful partnership. I would oversee the renovations, while you train the staff.” He turned her toward him and grasped her hands. “Think of it, my love, being together in places like China, India, Australia, Jamaica. We could meet up with your sons, and see the world together. Can you imagine how exciting that would be? You wouldn’t have time to be miserable.”
Yes, she thought. Exciting. But how could she bear to leave Badgers End and the Pennyfoot again?
He must have known what she was thinking. “Just promise me one thing.”
“All right.”
“Promise me you will think about it.”
She let out her breath on a long sigh. She’d probably be thinking of nothing else from now on. “I will.”
He leaned forward to kiss her and she clung to him. How could she take this opportunity away from him? Then again, how could she leave the Pennyfoot again after all these years?
“Happy Christmas, my love.”
She drew back to look at him. “Happy Christmas, darling.”
She would put away the decision for now. For no matter what she decided, or what happened in the future, nothing would ever change her love for her husband. That was all that really mattered.
Kate Kingsbury
